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Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Eagle On His Own

When you drive around the countryside, you just never know what you might see. The other day I saw something out of the corner of my eye standing near the fence in a pasture. At first glance, it appeared to be a llama. As I drove closer and eventually passed by, my eyes confirmed that it was not a mirage. There was a llama, but he wasn't wearing striped pajamas. I digress.

Last week I noticed a dark lump in the middle of the road near a field where we were combining. It could have been a barnyard mud chunk, or carrion of some type. As I drove closer, I stopped to take this picture. It was a young bald eagle. He looked at me as if he was hoping that I was one of his own species, carefully and for several seconds.

Eventually he flew off the road.

He landed in the stubble field near the road.

He then stopped and looked at me again. Alone in the world, he seemed bewildered, perhaps hungry, confused. Nature is harsh, even cruel. The young leave home with just the fur or feathers on their backs this time of year. The young must figure life out or pay the ultimate price.

When the eagle was certain that I was not friend or food, he flew away to make a life in GriggsDakota and beyond.